Jazz’s Ace Bailey Continues Scoring Run With New Career High

The Utah Jazz don’t have much to be playing for anymore after getting eliminated from playoff contention last week, but it’s looking more and more like the franchise got a good one in Ace Bailey.

In the Jazz’s most recent three games, the 19-year-old put together the most impressive stretch of his NBA career. 33 points against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 19, 25 points in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 21, and a new career-high, 37 points in Monday’s matchup with the Toronto Raptors.

Sadly, Utah’s season is coming to an end in a few weeks, but there’s plenty to look forward to in seasons to come.

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Ace Bailey’s Up-and-Down Rookie Season

Ace Bailey’s first year in the NBA became drama-filled before he was even on a roster. In the weeks leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, Bailey, along with his representatives, made it known that there were only specific teams he would be willing to play for that were selecting in his draft window.

At one point, the Rutgers prospect was in the conversation for being taken in the third to fifth overall range. The drama that loomed at Bailey’s draft table would eventually see him getting selected No. 5 overall by the Utah Jazz. However, there was speculation that the Washington Wizards at the No. 6 spot was Bailey’s preferred destination.

Once he started with the Utah Jazz, it didn’t take long for Ace Bailey to get comfortable with the team. In his 11th and 12th career games, Bailey recorded back-to-back 20-point outings in limited minutes.

December would be the rookie’s most struggling month, averaging 10.8 points and rebounds while shooting 40.3% from the field. Those numbers have continued to increase, averaging 13.8 in January, 14.3 in February, and an impressive 21.2 points in March.

This has led Bailey to the most impressive stretch of games so far in his career. This will be something to take note of in the Jazz’s final 10 games of the 2025-26 season.

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Utah’s Potential for Seasons to Come

With the list of Jazz injuries this season, Ace Bailey has continued to take advantage of better opportunities. Utah’s Walker Kessler, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Lauri Markkanen have missed significant time this season due to injuries.

The three bigs bring a group of proven front-court players that can be labeled as one of the best in the league. The scoring upside of Markkanen and the glass cleaning defense that Kessler and Jackson Jr. provide will be interesting to see next season.

Something to note for the upcoming offseason will be the decision on Walker Kessler, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The 24-year-old’s inability to stay healthy over the past few seasons will be a playing factor in what Utah’s roster will look like in 2026-27.

This, mixed with the emergence of 22-year-old Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier in the backcourt, will be entertaining for Jazz fans for years to come. The scoring ability of George (23.6 points per game in 2025-26) and the playmaking of Collier (7.2 assists per game in 2025-26) will bring excitement to Salt Lake City.

 

 

 

 

Toran Flores is a sports reporter located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He’s covered news in the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. His work has been featured on platforms like FanSided, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Lakers All Day Everyday, and others.

In his free time, Toran enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active, and traveling. More about Toran Flores